The holiday season is right around the corner, and West Side Forward is helping small businesses across Chicago’s West Side get ready for one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year!
Our 2026 Holiday Shopping Guide is designed to connect local businesses with holiday shoppers, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to increase visibility, promote their products and services, and highlight special holiday deals, seasonal offers, and exclusive promotions. Best of all, participation is completely free for eligible businesses!
A Free Opportunity to Showcase Your Business
For small businesses, the holiday season is an important opportunity to reach new customers, strengthen community connections, and encourage shoppers to support local entrepreneurs. West Side Forward’s Holiday Shopping Guide makes it easier for residents to discover the unique businesses right in their own neighborhoods.
Featured businesses will receive their own dedicated section in the guide, showcasing key information to help customers learn more about what they offer. Each listing can include:
- Business name and description to introduce your business to potential customers.
- Display photo to help your business stand out.
- Website URL so shoppers can learn more about your products and services.
- Social media accounts to help customers connect with and follow your business.
- Holiday deals, specials, and promotions to encourage shoppers to shop local this season.
Whether you offer unique gifts, specialty products, personal services, or other seasonal offerings, the Holiday Shopping Guide is an opportunity to put your business in front of shoppers looking to support their local community.
The Holiday Shopping Guide is open to businesses that meet the eligibility requirements. To participate, businesses must be legally incorporated and located within Chicago’s West Side communities served by West Side Forward.
Eligible ZIP codes include:
- Austin: 60644, 60639, 60651
- East Garfield Park: 60612
- West Garfield Park: 60624
- North Lawndale: 60608, 60623, 60624
- South Lawndale: 60608, 60623, 60632
If your business is located in one of these ZIP codes and meets the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to sign up!
Supporting Small Businesses on Chicago’s West Side
At West Side Forward, we’re committed to supporting, assisting, and uplifting the small business community across the neighborhoods we serve. As a Neighborhood Business Development Center, we help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of business ownership through a variety of resources and services, including one-on-one business counseling, training programs, referrals, and educational events.
We understand the hard work, dedication, and determination it takes to build and sustain a business. That’s why we’re always looking for meaningful ways to help local entrepreneurs grow, connect with customers, and thrive.
Our 2026 Holiday Shopping Guide is another way we’re putting that commitment into action. By helping shoppers discover local businesses, we hope to encourage community investment and remind residents that some of the best holiday finds are right here on the West Side.
Sign Up for the 2026 Holiday Shopping Guide!
This holiday season, let West Side Forward help put your business in the spotlight. Take advantage of this free opportunity to showcase your business, promote your seasonal offerings, and connect with shoppers who want to support local entrepreneurs.
Sign up today for the 2026 Holiday Shopping Guide and help us make this holiday season a little brighter for small businesses across Chicago’s West Side!
Together, we can celebrate our local entrepreneurs, strengthen our neighborhoods, and make shopping local part of the holiday tradition.